Beowulf (B or 3/4 stars)
'Beowulf', an animated action film directed by Robert Zemeckis (The Polar Express), is a warrior (voiced by Ray Winstone) who must defeat the monster, Grendel (voiced by Crispin Glover), who's terrorizing a Danish town in 507 ad. Later on in the story, it is Beowulf who also has to contend with Grendel's mysterious mother (Angelina Jolie). The legend of Beowulf comes from a famous 8th c. epic poem; read by millions of school students. But it isn't the most appealing story to read. There was an attempt (last year) with Beowulf & Grendel to bring the 1250 yr. old legend to the screen. But it was a straight adaptation, & it was poorly executed. THIS film (embellishments & all) is far superior. And to say it's visually stunning is an understatement ... even with my 3D glasses.
The film opens in the mead hall of King Hrothgar (Anthony Hopkins). His warriors are feverishly feasting. He, himself, is drunk as a skunk. And his young queen (Robin Wright Penn) is very unhappy. Perhaps she loves Hrothgar, but you can tell that she neither approves of this behavior, nor wants to have Hrothgar's child (for a very specific reason). Just when things were getting to its most exuberant peak, tragedy strikes! The ugly troll-like monster, Grendel, bursts into the hall & commences an all-out slaughtering of the Danes. In the end, most men, women, & children are dead. But he curiously leaves Hrothgar unharmed. Hrothgar summons heroes to come from the outer lands to destroy Grendel ... and it is Beowulf who'll have a go at it.
Hrothgar offers treasure as a reward (if he kills the monster), but Beowulf (arriving from Greatland ... a sort of Sweden) is driven more so for glory, rather than gold. He boasts what he will do to Grendel, much to the skepticism of Hrothgar's right-hand-man, Unferth (a brilliant John Malkovich). Later, at a banquet, Beowulf becomes entranced by the young queen's singing voice; he likes her & the feeling seems mutual. Before long, after the Danes have gone to bed, Grendel arrives to wreak havoc once again. The result of the battle btwn. Beowulf & Grendel sets in motion the cunning, sly, evil-magic of Grendel's mother (an ugly water serpent who can shift her shape into becoming whatever she pleases). Just when things appear to be going well, a new cycle of tragedy is conjured.
This is an extremely ambitious film (almost over-the-top). And though it's animated, it's actually the 'photorealistic animation' that was also employed in 'Polar Express'. The result in this film is MUCH better than Polar Express. Though, I don't think this will be remembered as fondly as Polar Express has been (mainly as a surefire Holiday classic); but I digress. Let's talk about the fun things in this film: The nudity (haha). Beowulf fights Grendel in the nude (as such in the poem), but to keep the PG-13 rating, we do not see his manhood. And though Jolie is completely nude, her womanhood is glazed over by some liquid gold. Still, the perception of nudity made elements of this film highly erotic. Another fun thing about the film? It's vibrant spectacle ...
The stunning, sweeping, long range tracking shots of the land, the brutal killings, gore, weaponry, magic, mystique, flawed heroes & villains (Beowulf's provocative physique is perfect, Jolie's uber-realistic physique is simply incredible, Grendel's appearance is hideous, & a fire breathing dragon is terrifying). I was in awe at the nerve-tingling sequence involving this dragon (again, does it go over-the-top to impress? Sadly, YES. But it's still good fun, & injects some life to the stale portions of the epic poem). This film's plot (often different from the source material) offers a story of intriguing scope. In particular, I acknowledge the attempt at character development: Grendel's tortured outcast, Hrothgar & Beowulf's inner hubris, an Oedipal conflict, and in particular, the young queen's inner conflicts ... it just doesn't work all of the time. And aside from the slight failure in character development, the movie aims to ooh & ah more than enrich with deep contexts & history (I am sad at this). Still, less mythic, and more adventurous than the epic poem, 'Beowulf' is a fun ride to leap on.
The film opens in the mead hall of King Hrothgar (Anthony Hopkins). His warriors are feverishly feasting. He, himself, is drunk as a skunk. And his young queen (Robin Wright Penn) is very unhappy. Perhaps she loves Hrothgar, but you can tell that she neither approves of this behavior, nor wants to have Hrothgar's child (for a very specific reason). Just when things were getting to its most exuberant peak, tragedy strikes! The ugly troll-like monster, Grendel, bursts into the hall & commences an all-out slaughtering of the Danes. In the end, most men, women, & children are dead. But he curiously leaves Hrothgar unharmed. Hrothgar summons heroes to come from the outer lands to destroy Grendel ... and it is Beowulf who'll have a go at it.
Hrothgar offers treasure as a reward (if he kills the monster), but Beowulf (arriving from Greatland ... a sort of Sweden) is driven more so for glory, rather than gold. He boasts what he will do to Grendel, much to the skepticism of Hrothgar's right-hand-man, Unferth (a brilliant John Malkovich). Later, at a banquet, Beowulf becomes entranced by the young queen's singing voice; he likes her & the feeling seems mutual. Before long, after the Danes have gone to bed, Grendel arrives to wreak havoc once again. The result of the battle btwn. Beowulf & Grendel sets in motion the cunning, sly, evil-magic of Grendel's mother (an ugly water serpent who can shift her shape into becoming whatever she pleases). Just when things appear to be going well, a new cycle of tragedy is conjured.
This is an extremely ambitious film (almost over-the-top). And though it's animated, it's actually the 'photorealistic animation' that was also employed in 'Polar Express'. The result in this film is MUCH better than Polar Express. Though, I don't think this will be remembered as fondly as Polar Express has been (mainly as a surefire Holiday classic); but I digress. Let's talk about the fun things in this film: The nudity (haha). Beowulf fights Grendel in the nude (as such in the poem), but to keep the PG-13 rating, we do not see his manhood. And though Jolie is completely nude, her womanhood is glazed over by some liquid gold. Still, the perception of nudity made elements of this film highly erotic. Another fun thing about the film? It's vibrant spectacle ...
The stunning, sweeping, long range tracking shots of the land, the brutal killings, gore, weaponry, magic, mystique, flawed heroes & villains (Beowulf's provocative physique is perfect, Jolie's uber-realistic physique is simply incredible, Grendel's appearance is hideous, & a fire breathing dragon is terrifying). I was in awe at the nerve-tingling sequence involving this dragon (again, does it go over-the-top to impress? Sadly, YES. But it's still good fun, & injects some life to the stale portions of the epic poem). This film's plot (often different from the source material) offers a story of intriguing scope. In particular, I acknowledge the attempt at character development: Grendel's tortured outcast, Hrothgar & Beowulf's inner hubris, an Oedipal conflict, and in particular, the young queen's inner conflicts ... it just doesn't work all of the time. And aside from the slight failure in character development, the movie aims to ooh & ah more than enrich with deep contexts & history (I am sad at this). Still, less mythic, and more adventurous than the epic poem, 'Beowulf' is a fun ride to leap on.